The State Emblem of India is adapted from the Sarnath Lion capital of Ashoka the Emperor, which is preserved in the Sarnath Museum. It features three lions standing back to back mounted on an abacus. The government adopted this emblem on January 26, 1950, when India became a republic. It appears on official government documents and currency, and sometimes serves as the national emblem on passports and for diplomatic purposes.

2. The State Emblem of India is in
adaptation from the Sarnath Lion,
capital of Ashoka the Emperor as
preserved in the Sarnath Museum. The
government adopted the emblem on
26th January, 1950, the day when
India became republic.

3. In the original Sarnath capital, there are four lions,
standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a
frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an
elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion
separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped
lotus. Carved out of a single block of polished
sandstone, the capital is crowned by the Wheel of
the Law (Dharma Chakra). In the state emblem
adopted by the government of India, only three
Lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from
view. The wheel appears in relief in the center of
the abacus with a bull on the right and a horse on
the left. The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted. The
words Satyameva Jayate from Mundaka Upanishad,

4. The emblem forms a part of the
official letterhead of the
Government of India, and
appears on all Indian currency as
well. It also sometimes functions
as the national emblem of India
in many places and appears
prominently on the diplomatic
and national Passport of the